Electroless plating of metals onto carbon nanotubes activated by a single-step activation method

In this work, carbon nanotubes were activated with Pd-Sn catalytic nuclei v ia a single-step activation approach. These activated nanotubes were used a s precursors for obtaining nickel- and palladium-decorated nanotubes via el ectroless plating. Activation of the nanotube surfaces promoted specific de position of metal on the catalytic tube surfaces. As a result, carbon nanot ubes densely coated with metal nanoparticles were obtained with reduced met al deposition in the reaction solution.